Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia on Brink of Renewed Conflict, Analysts Say

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP and Axios, analysts and Gulf sources indicate that Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia appear on the verge of reigniting conflict after the Houthis claimed their first major attack on Saudi Arabia since 2022, signaling that the war between the US and Iran is spreading and could further destabilize the Middle East. On Monday, July 13, the Houthis struck Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia in retaliation for an earlier attack by Yemen's internationally recognized government on Sanaa International Airport, which is controlled by the Houthis. The Yemeni government said it targeted Sanaa airport to prevent Iranian planes from landing, while the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of backing the government. A Gulf source told AFP that Saudi Arabia is preparing to retaliate after the attack on Abha airport, as Saudi civilian infrastructure is a red line for Riyadh. Houthi political bureau member Farah warned on Monday that if the situation escalates, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz could both be closed, potentially sending oil prices soaring to $200 per barrel. Separately, Iran has intensified attacks on Oman in an effort to control the Strait of Hormuz, prompting stronger protests from the traditionally neutral Oman. Iran has targeted vessels using Omani routes, drawing US retaliation and Iranian reprisal attacks on Gulf states including Oman. Analysts note that despite targeting Gulf states with missiles and drones, Iran has not attacked Israel, likely to avoid giving Israel a pretext for a larger conflict.